VERMONT Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) The Northern - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Northern Border Regional Commission Economic & Infrastructure Development VERMONT

Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is a Federal-State partnership for economic and community development created by Congress in 2008, with the active leadership and support of Vermont’s Congressional Delegation. It has been Federally funded since 2010.

Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) The NBRC partnership is led by the governors of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York as well as a Federal Co- chair, who is appointed by the President. Governor Scott’s NBRC Delegate is ACCD Deputy Secretary Ted Brady

Vermont Overview: 2010-2019 • 2010: 2 Projects $375,110 • 2011: 2 Projects $206,690 • 2012: 2 Projects $373,447 • 2013: 2 Projects $355,100 • 2014: 5 Projects $1,091,679 • 2015: 6 Projects $1,221,259 • 2016: 14 Projects $1,824,000 Total Investments to Date: • 2017: 10 Projects $2,228,801 • 2018: 14 Projects $2,881,700 69 Projects: $13,943,944 • 2019: 12 Projects $3,386,118

Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Local oversight is provided through multi-county Local Development Districts (LDD). Vermont’s has 3 LDD’s: Northern Vermont Economic Development District NBRC Coverage Area: Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orleans and Washington counties c/o Northwest Regional Planning Commission Contact: Greta Brunswick, Senior Planner (802)524-5958 or gbrunswick@nrpcvt.com Windham Regional Commission​ NBRC Coverage Area: Windham and Bennington Counties (As well as Weston, VT) Contact: Chris Company, Executive Director (802)257-4547 or ccampany@windhamregional.org East Central Vermont Economic Development District ​NBRC Coverage Area: Addison, Orange, Rutland and Windsor Counties Contact: Peter Gregory, Executive Director (802)457-3188 or pgregory@trorc.org

NBRC - Eligible Applicants • Public bodies including Municipalities, State Agencies (Excluding ACCD) or State Departments. • Political Subdivisions of the State , including Regional Planning Commissions • Non-profit organizations - 501C , including Regional Development Corporations • Native American tribes

2020 NBRC – EID Program Highlights Funding • Approximately $4.5 million in funding available in VT for 2020 investments. • $1,000,000 maximum grant for critical infrastructure construction projects (Up from $500,000 in the last EID round). • $350,000 maximum grant amount for all other projects (Up from $250,000 in the last EID round).

2020 NBRC – EID Program Highlights Match & Reimbursement • Up to 80% match in Caledonia, Essex, Orleans, Orange, and Rutland counties. • Up to 50% match in remainder of State. • Up to 35% match for projects with blended counties. • All investments are in the form of reimbursements for previously paid and eligible expenses following the notice to proceed.

2020 NBRC – Distressed v. Transition

Infrastructure changed to Construction Defined as “Construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging, excavating, and painting) of buildings, structures, or other real property. For purposes of this definition, the terms “buildings, structures, or other real property” include, but are not limited to, improvements of all types, such as bridges, dams, plants, highways, parkways, streets, subways, tunnels, sewers, mains, power lines, cemeteries, pumping stations, railways, airport facilities, terminals, docks, piers, wharves, ways, lighthouses, buoys, jetties, breakwaters, levees, canals, and channels. A project that includes planning and engineering when part of a larger construction implementation will be considered ‘construction’; a project solely made up of planning and/or engineering will not be considered ‘construction’.”

Examples of Eligible Investment Projects • Transportation, telecommunication, broadband, and basic public infrastructure (Water/Wastewater) • Job skills and employment-related education • Entrepreneurship, technology and business development • Resource conservation, tourism, outdoor recreation, community development and preservation of open spaces • Promotion of the development of renewable energy sources • Basic health care and other public services

Vermont Scoring and Review Process • Interdepartmental core review team with 7 members from within ACCD (representing DED, VDTM, DHCD, and Admin) independently reviews and scores each application, in addition to a stable of 8-10 category experts who review applications in specific categories. • VT Review team meets to deliberate on each application, share key rationale for/against funding, discuss applicant responses, and make consensus recommendation to VT ACCD leadership and the Governor re: which projects to put forward to NBRC for investment. • Agency Leadership, with review team, makes final recommendation to the Governor. Governor signs a letter with our selections.

Scoring Criteria - NBRC Applications will be scored in the following areas: Section A: The Degree to which the project aligns with and advanes the 8 "Steps to Success" identified in Vermont's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) • Makes financing available • Educates a great workforce • Builds for the future (infrastructure) • Helps businesses flourish • Preserves Vermont's working landscape • Cultivates innovation • Project readiness • Plans for resilience

Scoring Criteria - NBRC Section B: Broad State Priorities • Is the project located within or does it directly benefit a state designated downtown, opportunity zone or village center? • Degree to which the project aligns with and advances the Governor's three guiding strategic priorities: • Strengthen Vermont's Economy • Make Vermont more affordable • Protect the most vulnerable Vermonters

Scoring Criteria - NBRC Section C: Financial Need • Extent to which NBRC funding is necessary for the project to proceed or succeed

Scoring Criteria – NBRC & State Strategic Plan

Scoring Criteria – NBRC & State Strategic Plan

Scoring Criteria - NBRC ➢ The 2019 NBRC – EID round brought 60 applications - we anticipate that this round will be an equally rigorous competition! ➢ The most competitive applications will clearly document the economic impacts of the project. REMEMBER you will be up against projects with impressive regional and/or statewide impact! ➢ Applications that align with the Grow the Economy strategic goals will be most highly scored. The full strategic plan can be viewed here: https://strategicplan.vermont.gov/strategic-plan. ➢ Consult the 2020 NBRC Application Manual and the notes, FAQ's and other guidance provided on the NBRC website!

NBRC – EID Application Timeline March 2: Application materials available on NBRC website. March 31: Letters of notification due. April 6: Application portal live on NBRC website. May 15 (5pm EST): Application deadline. June 30: Previous awardees must have completed 75% of projects to be eligible for 2020 award. August 10 – August 14: NBRC notification of awards & notice to unsuccessful applicants. August 17 – September 11: NBRC grant agreement preparation & distribution. Early October: Mandatory grant recipient workshop.

Application Submission Contacts: Kristie Farnham, Rich Grogan, Vermont NBRC Program Manager Federal NBRC Executive Director Kristie.Farnham@Vermont.gov RGrogan@nbrc.gov (802) 398-5268 (603) 369-3001 https://accd.vermont.gov/economic www.nbrc.gov -development